Did you know that Megastar Chiranjeevi was initially offered the lead role in 'Jailer'?

'Jailer' was not your typical Tollywood film. It lacked the usual love tracks, romantic songs, and action scenes that are so prevalent in the industry. Yet, it became a massive blockbuster. The credit for this unusual success goes to the legendary Rajinikanth and the gripping narrative he chose to be a part of. At a time when the lead actor had been experiencing a string of failures, 'Jailer' was the game-changer.
The Telugu star who passed on 'Jailer' is none other than Megastar Chiranjeevi.Director Nelson Dilip Kumar initially pitched the story to Chiranjeevi, hoping to bring him on board for this unique project. However, Chiranjeevi's response was lukewarm, mainly due to the absence of the elements he was accustomed to, such as multiple songs. He didn't outright decline the offer but left it hanging with a non-committal "let's see later."
As fate would have it, 'Jailer' became a tale of blockbuster success for one and a missed opportunity for another. When Director Nelson Dilip Kumar approached Rajinikanth with the script, the superstar immediately gave it the green signal. This decision, which might have seemed unorthodox at the time, turned out to be a game-changer for both Rajinikanth and the film.
Adding to the intrigue of this story is the clash of release dates. 'Jailer' starring Rajinikanth hit theatres on August 9, while Chiranjeevi's 'Bholaa Shankar' was released just two days later on August 11. The stark contrast in their fortunes became evident right from the first show. 'Bholaa Shankar' received a disastrous response, while 'Jailer' garnered a blockbuster success with rave reviews.